After an opening round five over 77 at the Dubai Desert Classic, Tiger Woods withdrew today due to back spasms. A two-time winner of the event however, in his last 19 starts, this is the fourth withdraw for the former world No. 1. Woods has not won a tournament since 2013 and has not won a major since 2008.
Woods was scheduled to play the Genesis Open at Riviera February 16-19 and the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens February 23-26 — no word from the Woods camp on those events.
Woods’ two appearances in 2017: a missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines and a WD at Dubai Desert Classic.
George Coetzee at -9, Sergio Garcia at -8 and Nacho Elvira at -6 top the leader board.